Atomizing humidifier for central heating systems

ABSTRACT

A humidifier which opens a solenoid valve when the blower fan of a central heating system is energized, and which valve is closed upon opening the circuit to the blower fan, or is controlled by a humidistat while the blower fan is operating. A particularly salient feature of the device is that the body of the solenoid valve is constructed of non-metallic material, such as plastic, which will not corrode nor cause electrolysis between adjacent connections, which will greatly reduce the accumulation of residual mineral scale. The valve body, which is provided with a quick removable filter, is small in size and has a relatively large filtration capacity, before it has to be replaced. Furthermore, the valve body is molded of plastic in a single unit, which plastic may be Nylon, Velox, or Acetal or plastics having similar characteristics. The valve body is so constructed that a single spray nozzle can be used therewith, and the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;drip, &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; if any, conveyed to a suitable place of disposal, or, an adapter unit may be used to employ two or three spray nozzles, with a collector lip to direct residual drip, if any, into a drainage system and to a point of disposal.

United States Patent 1 Harvey 1 Apr. 15, 1975 1 ATOMIZING HUMIDIFIER FORCENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS [22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:427,423

[52] US. Cl. 126/113; 137/549; 210/232; 251/141; 261/66 [51] Int. Cl.F24f 3/14 [58] Field of Search 126/113; 261/66, 4; 137/549; 251/141;239/590.3; 210/232, 234, 235

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,139,804 12/1968 Chandler261/66 2,325,878 8/1943 Ray 251/141 2,877,795 3/1959 Cocklin 251/1413,334,877 8/1967 Payne 26l/D1G. 15 3,476,128 11/1969 Barker 251/1413,709,462 1/1973 Piffath et al. 431/344 X 3,770,254 1l/l973 Morrow26l/D1G. 15 3,817,491 6/1974 Burkhardt et a1 251/141 PrimaryExaminerWilliam E. Wayner Assistant ExaminerTapolcai, Jr. W. E.Attorney, Agent, or FirmWayland D. Keith [57] ABSTRACT A humidifierwhich opens a solenoid valve when the blower fan of a central heatingsystem is energized, and which valve is closed upon opening the circuitto the blower fan, or is controlled by a humidistat while the blower fanis operating. A particularly salient feature of the device is that thebody of the solenoid valve is constructed of non-metallic material, suchas plastic, which will not corrode nor cause electrolysis betweenadjacent connections, which will greatly reduce the accumulation ofresidual mineral scale. The valve body, which is provided with a quickremovable filter, is small in size and has a relatively large filtrationcapacity, before it has to be replaced. Furthermore, the valve body ismolded of plastic in a single unit, which plastic may be Nylon, Velox,or Acetal or plastics having similar characteristics. The valve body isso constructed that a single spray nozzle can be used therewith, and thedrip, if any, conveyed to a suitable place of disposal, or, an adapterunit may be used to employ two or three spray nozzles, with a collectorlip to direct residual drip, if any, into a drainage system and to apoint of disposal.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRISIQIS 3 877 459 saw 195 2PATENTEDAPR 1 51975 877. 459 same I g ATOMIIZING HUMIDIFIER FOR CENTRALHEATING SYSTEMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various atomizinghumidifiers for central heating systems have been proposed heretofore,but these, for the most part, did not take into consideration severalfactors which make for efficient humidification over long periods oftime without extensive cleaning or replacement of the valve body partsand the nozzles of some units, in use heretofore, would build upinternal 8 residual oxides and residual mineral scale from the water,which would cause the humidifiers to vary greatly in the amount andquality of the atomized water discharged into the air system.

The present solenoid valve body and atomizing nozzle have been designedin an effort to overcome most of these deficiences, as found in othersystems in use heretofore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to humidifiersfor central heating systems and more particularly to a humidifier whichatomizes water to be incorporated into the warm air on the down streamside of a central heating system, which humidifier operates inconjunction with a humidistat so as to keep the air at the properhumidity for best living conditions.

The present system utilizes a solenoid valve, the body ofwhich is moldedplastic, such as sold under the trade names of Nylon, Velox, Acetal orthe like. The particular body with which the water is in contact isnoncorrosive and does not create electrolysis problems which result incorrosion, as would be the result if dissimilar metals were in contactwith the water internally, particularly where the water carries anobjectionable mineral or chemical content. The associated partsconnected with the present water passage in the valve body are also madeof molded or machined plastic, or noncorrosive material and are notsubject to oxidation, as would be the case with most metals.

The present valve body is formed of a unitary piece of plastic and is soconstructed as to receive a removable, disposable filter therein, whichfilter can be quickly removed and a new filter quickly inserted. Thefilter may be of compressed media, such as sintered plastic granules, orit may have a ceramic filter unit, of controlled porosity, to filter orstrain the suspended particles entrained within the water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of acentral, heating unit employing an atomizing humidifier for centralforced air heating systems, with parts broken away and shown in sectionto bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a solenoid valve and ahumidifying apparatus shown apart from the heating system and showing asectional view of a pipe connected thereto;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve as shown in FIG. 2,showing an atomizing nozzle in full outline attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a solenoid valve as shown in FIG. 2 but with parts broken awayand showing a multiple humidifier discharge nozzle arrangement connectedthereto;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the nozzle arrangement as shown inFIG. 6, showing three nozzles; FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 butshowing one of the nozzle connections as being closed by a plug;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 7, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows, with the nozzles removed;

FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of theatomizing nozzles with parts broken away and with parts shown inelevation to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line l111 of FIG. 10, lookingin the direction indicated by the ar- I'OW.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 presents anexploded perspective view of a heating unit generally designated by thenumeral 1 which embodies the present atomizing humidifier generallydesignated by the numeral 2, which humidifier directs atomized moistureinto the discharge of the heating system so as to properly humidify theair being heated.

The heating unit 1 is enclosed in a conventional housing 4. A motor 6drives a blower fan (not shown) to move the air through the furnacehousing 4 in the direction indicated by the arrows, FIG. 1, and outthrough ducts 12 and 8 into branch ducts (not shown) as desired. Arefrigeration coil unit 10 is shown within the air outlet duct 8, as amatter of conventionality, with the atomizing humidifier unit 2 securedto the housing 12 of the air outlet passage so that atomized moisturewill be directed, under pressure, into the air stream from conduit 30after the furnace motor has been started.

The present solenoid 14 on unit 2 is connected by means of electricalconductors l6 and 18, leading therefrom. The electrical conductor 16leads to the hot leg of the electrical circuit 20 and the electricalconductor 18 leads to and through a humidistat 22 to conductor 24 thatis connected in parallel with circuit 20 24 leading to blower fan motor6. Upon closing switch 26 the motor 6 will operate the blower fan (notshown) to energize the coil of solenoid 14 so as to open valve 28 todirect water under pressure from conduit 30, with the water passingthrough filter 32 into central opening 34 through opening in passages30A and 30B and through valve 28-29 and into passage 36-31. In the formof the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the water passes outthrough an orifice 38 in nozzle 40, and since the orifice is only a fewthousandths of an inch in diameter, the water is atomized as it passestherethrough and is admixed with the air passing upwardly from thefurnace 1 through ducts l2 and 8.

The filter 32 is of such character as to filter out suspended solids, ofabout micron size, from the water and to direct the filtered waterthrough passages 36 into atomizing nozzle 40. The atomizing nozzle 40 isconstructed of an injection molded plastic of a type that resists scalebuild up, aging due to the passage of water therethrough, or to otherfactors that normally cause corrosion and scale on metal. Therefore theorifice 38 is kept free of solid build up, which is common in certaintype nozzles, particularly those made of metal.

The nozzle 40 is axially bored to receive a centralizer element 42,which is cuniform in shape, and is so shaped that the water passingthrough the opening 44 in hollow set screw 46 will be directed into thefour quadrants of the bore within the nozzle 40. The opening 47 in thebody of the nozzle 40 is screw threaded to receive the hollow set screw46. Water is directed from the bore of the nozzle through annularpassage 48, with the water passing outward from the beveled face 50 ofthe turbo dispersal cone 50A, which cone preferably has four minutegrooves 51 and two angles formed therein near the outer end thereof, sothe liquid will be dispensed into the cyclone chamber 51A and will passout through orifice 38 into the air stream passing upward through ducts12 and 8. The nozzle 40 has exterior threads 52 to enable the nozzle tobe screw threaded into the integrally molded plastic housing 54, whichinterfits with the solenoid unit 14, as will best be seen in FIGS. 2, 3,and 6. The bevel faces 50 of the dispersal cone 50A, taken with theoff-set, angularly arranged grooves 51, will direct water under pressureto cyclone chamber 51A of nozzle 40 so the resultant atomized sprayemitted from the minute orifice 38 will be conical.

A sleeve 58 passes through solenoid l4 and has a screw threaded ring 58Asecured to the lower end thereof. The screw threaded ring threadablyengages a complementary screw threaded portion of plastic housing 54,FIG. 3, in fluid tight relation and extends through the solenoid l4 andhas an anvil 62 secured to the upper end of the sleeve 58, as bywelding. The screw threaded anvil 62 has an axial recess formed thereinto register with the axial recess formed in armature 56 to receive acompression spring 60 within the axial recesses to urge the armature 56downward, when the solenoid 14 is de-energized, so as to seat elastomerseal 28 on hollow boss 29 to form a fluid tight seal. The upper end ofthe anvil 62 is screw threaded to receive a nut 63 thereon so as tosecurely hold the solenoid 14 to the plastic housing 54, as will best beseen in FIG. 3.

Upon closing switch 26 to activate blower fan motor 6, the circuit 16-18which leads to and through humidistat 22 and to solenoid 14. If contactpoints within humidistat 22 are closed the water will be directed fromconduit 30 and through passages 36 and 31 into and through the atomizinghumidifier 2 by opening valve 28-29 within housing 54. If the humidstatcontact points are open, no moisture will be discharged into the ducts12 and 8.

Upon energizing the solenoid 14, the armature 56 will be moved upward topermit water to flow from passage 30B out through passage 36 intopassage 31, if the circuit 16-18 is closed.

The valve 28-29 comprises an elastomer seal 28 which seats against ahollow boss 29 within plastic housing 54, with the elastomer seal 28being seated in a non-corrosive metal armature 56 of solenoid 14. Theplastic housing 54 has an angulated flange 54A thereon to enable theatomizing humidifier 2 to be installed at an angle on duct 12 so as todirect atmoized moisture therefrom upwardly into the air ducts l2 and 8,as shown in FIG. 1. The atomizing humidifier 2 has a conduit 33 leadingfrom openings 55 and 55A therein to direct any accumulated droplets orleakage from the atomizing humidifier 2 downward therethrough to aselected place of disposal.

It is highly important that the water passing through the atomizinghumidifier 2 be as nearly free of suspended solids as possible, and itis to this end that the removable filter 32 is fitted within water inletchamber 32E, with a closure cap 30C screw threaded into the plastichousing 54 of water inlet chamber 32E, with an O-ring 30D forming a sealbetween the closure cap 30C and the water inlet chamber 32E.

A filter ejector plunger 32A is fitted within the housing 54 at thedischarge end of the filter 32, which filter ejector plunger 32A has abeveled seat thereon to interfit with a complementary bevel in thehousing 54, and an O-ring seal 32B is fitted within a groove withinejector plunger 32A so as to form a water seal between the housing andthe plunger. The discharge end of the housing of filter 32 is reduced insize and has a groove formed therein to receive an O-ring 32C. Thereduced discharge end of filter housing is in close fitting,complementary relation with a counter bore within the housing 54 Thedischarge end of the filter housing is beveled as indicated at 32D tocomplementally engage a bevel in the counter bore of the water dischargeoutlet from the filter 32 in housing 54. The discharge end of filter 32is a spaced distance from the filter ejector plunger 32A so as to enablethe water passing through the filter to be discharged into passage 30Aand out through passage 308.

When the passages in filter 32 become clogged, the filter may be easilyremoved by the removal of screw threaded filter chamber closure cap 30Cand using the filter ejector plunger 32A to push the filter 32 upwarduntil O-ring 32D disengages the counter bore within housing 54, at whichtime a new filter may be installed and the closure cap 30C replaced toclose the water inlet chamber 32E.

MODIFIED FORM OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 6 through 10 disclose a modifiedform of the invention which has a multiple nozzle adapter 101 which hasa conduit 10 a screw threaded end 102 thereon to threadably engagethreads 102A in plastic housing 54 so as to connect the multiple nozzleadapter having a plurality of passages therein with the passage 31 inthe plastic housing 54 so as to direct water passing out through passage31 into passages 101A, 1018, and 101C, which passages direct watertherethrough into screw threaded openings 104 connecting with therespective passages. The screw threaded openings 104 are adapted tothreadably receive threads 52 of nozzles 40, which nozzles may bearranged as indicated in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, so that either three or twonozzles, rather than one, as described in the aforementioned form of theinvention, may be used. When it is desired to use only two nozzles, asindicated in FIG. 8, a screw threaded plug 106 threadably closes one ofthe passages 104.

A moisture receiving tray 108 is positioned below the openings 104 andthe orifices 38, so that any excess moisture that might drip from thenozzles 40 will be directed into the tray 108 and thence into passage110, which passage is in fluid communication with passage 55 in housing54, so as to direct moisture therethrough into a disposal sump (notshown). In this manner the atmosphere within the air passages 12 and 8is maintained free of droplets of water. The passages 101A,

101B and 101C which lead to the respective nozzles 40, as shown in FIG.7, have to be drilled and cross drilled, and it is preferable thatpassage 101A be plugged by plug 112 to prevent leakage of moisturetherefrom.

It is to be pointed out that, with the present arrangement, the humiditywithin the air outlet of the heating system may be accuratelycontrolled, as this system operates in conjunction with humidistat 22,switch 26 and motor 6 in the same manner as the aforementioned form ofthe invention, thereby enabling a greater amount of moisture to besupplied to a larger system without having to install a plurality ofatomizing humidifiers, each with a separate solenoid operated valve. Bythe use of a multiplicity of atomizing nozzles 2 on a single solenoidvalve operated unit, and with a single humidistat 22, the electricalwiring and controls are kept to a minimum. The humidistat 22 andsolenoid 14 of the atomizing nozzles 40 of humidifier 2 are connected inparallel with the circuit 24 of the blower fan motor 6, so upon openingswitch 26 the valve 28-29 will close to prevent atomized moisture beingdirected into air passages 12 and 8.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a central heating system having a furnace withducts leading therefrom;

a. a water inlet supply conduit leading from a source of water underpressure,

b. a solenoid actuated valve, the body of which is made of plastic,mounted on the outlet duct leading from the furnace, which valve is influid communication with the water inlet supply conduit,

I. said solenoid actuated valve having the discharge thereofin positionto discharge water into the duct leading from the furnace,

2. at least one plastic nozzle connected in fluid communication withsaid discharge of said solenoid valve to atmoize water which isdischarged into the duct leading from the furnace,

3. a moisture receiving tray mounted on said valve body and positionednear the discharge end of said nozzle,

4. said moisture receiving tray having a passage formed therein, whichpassage leads therefrom to convey moisture from said tray,

5. a solenoid mounted on said solenoid actuated valve,

6. an armature within said solenoid of said solenoid actuated valve andextending into said valve,

7. a valve seat on said solenoid armature,

8. said plastic body of said solenoid actuated valve having passagesformed therein to direct water from said water inlet supply conduit tosaid valve seat on said armature,

9. a complementary valve seat in said valve body surrounding the waterdischarge of said body, so when said valve seat is in open position,water will be directed therethrough.

2. A combination with a central heating system as defined in claim 1;wherein a. said at least one plastic nozzle is a plurality of plasticnozzles connected in fluid communication with said water dischargepassage in said plastic body of said solenoid actuated valve,

b. said body having a further passage formed therein which furtherpassage is in fluid communication with said passage which leads fromsaid moisture receiving tray, to discharge moisture therethrough.

3. A combination with a central heating system, as

defined in claim 1; wherein a. said plastic body is formed of a unitarypiece of material,

1. said plastic body has a recess formed therein,

2. a filter fitted within said recess in said plastic body,

b. a cap fitted on said plastic body to seal said recess,

which recess receives said filter in fluid tight relation,

1. said cap having a water inlet opening formed therein,

c. a filter ejector plunger fitted within said plastic body and being inaxial alignment with said filter and normally being a spaced distancefrom said filter,

1. a fluid seal surrounding said filter ejector plunger to enable saidplunger to remain in place before and after the ejection of said filter.

4. A combination with a central heating system as defined in claim 3;wherein a. the recess formed in said plastic body has a reduced endportion,

b. said filter having a reduced end thereon to complementally engagewithin the reduced end portion of the filter recess,

1. said reduced end portion of said filter having a groove formedtherein to receive an O-ring,

2. an O-ring fitted within the groove in said reduced end portion ofsaid filter to form a fluid tight seal with the reduced end portion ofthe fil-

1. In combination with a central heating system having a furnace withducts leading therefrom; a. a water inlet supply conduit leading from asource of water under pressure, b. a solenoid actuated valve, the bodyof which is made of plastic, mounted on the outlet duct leading from thefurnace, which valve is in fluid communication with the water inletsupply conduit,
 1. said solenoid actuated valve having the dischargethereof in position to discharge water into the duct leading from thefurnace,
 2. at least one plastic nozzle connected in fluid communicationwith said discharge of said solenoid valve to atmoize water which isdischarged into the duct leading from the furnace,
 3. a moisturereceiving tray mounted on said valve body and positioned near thedischarge end of said nozzle,
 4. said moisture receiving tray having apassage formed therein, which passage leads therefrom to convey moisturefrom said tray,
 5. a solenoid mounted on said solenoid actuated valve,6. an armature within said solenoid of said solenoid actuated valve andextending into said valve,
 7. a valve seat on said solenoid armature, 8.said plastic body of said solenoid actuated valve having passages formedtherein to direct water from said water inlet supply conduit to saidvalve seat on said armature,
 9. a complementary valve seat in said valvebody surrounding the water discharge of said body, so when said valveseat is in open position, water will be directed therethrough.
 2. atleast one plastic nozzle connected in fluid communication with saiddischarge of said solenoid valve to atmoize water which is dischargedinto the duct leading from the furnace,
 2. an O-ring fitted within thegroove in said reduced end portion of said filter to form a fluid tightseal with the reduced end portion of the filter recess.
 2. a filterfitted within said recess in said plastic body, b. a cap fitted on saidplastic body to seal said recess, which recess receives said filter influid tight relation,
 2. A combination with a central heating system asdefined in claim 1; wherein a. said at least one plastic nozzle is aplurality of plastic nozzles connected in fluid communication with saidwater discharge passage in said plastic body of said solenoid actuatedvalve, b. said body having a further passage formed therein whichfurther passage is in fluid communication with said passage which leadsfrom said moisture receiving tray, to discharge moisture therethrough.3. A combination with a central heating system, as defined in claim 1;wherein a. said plastic body is formed of a unitary piece of material,3. a moisture receiving tray mounted on said valve body and positionednear the discharge end of said nozzle,
 4. said moisture receiving trayhaving a passage formed therein, which passage leads therefrom to conveymoisture from said tray,
 4. A combination with a central heating systemas defined in claim 3; wherein a. the recess formed in said plastic bodyhas a reduced end portion, b. said filter having a reduced end thereonto complementally engage within the reduced end portion of the filterrecess,
 5. a solenoid mounted on said solenoid actuated valve,
 6. anarmature within said solenoid of said solenoid actuated valve andextending into said valve,
 7. a valve seat on said solenoid armature, 8.said plastic body of said solenoid actuated valve having passages formedtherein to direct water from said water inlet supply conduit to saidvalve seat on said armature,
 9. a complementary valve seat in said valvebody surrounding the water discharge of said body, so when said valveseat is in open position, water will be directed therethrough.